Relation of antioxidants and acute-phase reactants in patients receiving hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION To investigate the oxidative stress and its association with antioxidants in patients on hemodialysis, we evaluated the levels of albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, vitamin E, glutathione, and total antioxidant capacity in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 25 patients on maintenance hemodialysis and measured the inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators consisting of the plasma concentrations of glutathione, vitamin E, and total antioxidant capacity. The acute-phase inflammatory response was assessed by determining the serum levels of CRP and albumin as well as the plasma level of ferritin. Antioxidants and acute-phase reactants in men and women and their association with age and their correlations with each other were analyzed. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 53.6 +/- 14.1 years (range, 29 to 70 years). They had been on hemodialysis for a mean duration of 4.66 +/- 5.08 years. There were no association of sex or age with the levels of antioxidants and acute-phase reactants. Plasma level of glutathione significantly correlated with CRP (r = 0.48; P = .01) and serum albumin (r = 0.42; P = .04). Duration of dialysis did not correlate with the antioxidants or acute-phase reactants. CONCLUSIONS Although it is reasonable to see an association between acute-phase reactants and levels of antioxidants in patients on hemodialysis, we failed to show such a relation. It is recommended that other biomarkers of oxidative stress and their relation in patients with kidney failure be investigated.